Maine Eviction Notice Law
Maine's notice period for unpaid rent is 7 days (7-day notice to quit for nonpayment (tenancy at will)). For a lease violation it is 7 days, with no statutory chance to cure.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Not legal advice. A defective notice can restart an eviction case; ask a Maine attorney or court self-help center before serving one. See our disclaimer.
Maine eviction notice rules at a glance
| Notice for unpaid rent | 7 days (7-day notice to quit for nonpayment (tenancy at will))14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)-(2) |
|---|---|
| Notice for a lease violation | 7 days (no statutory cure period)14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)(A)-(B), (E) |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no-fault) | 30 days (either side)14 M.R.S. § 6002 |
What Maine law says
What notice must a Maine landlord give before filing an eviction for unpaid rent?
Once a tenant at will is 7 or more days behind on rent, the landlord may serve a written 7-day termination notice stating the ground and the statutory statements; paying the full rent due before the notice expires voids it (14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)(C), (2)) (14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)-(2)).
How much notice is required for a lease violation in Maine?
A tenancy at will may be ended on 7 days' written notice for unrepaired substantial damage, a nuisance, making the unit unfit, violating the law, or violence against others, with no statutory cure; other breaches require the standard 30-day notice (14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)) (14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)(A)-(B), (E)).
How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Maine?
Either party may end a Maine tenancy at will with at least 30 days' written notice, and a landlord's notice must tell the tenant of the right to contest the termination in court (14 M.R.S. § 6002).
How Maine compares
23 of 49 verified jurisdictions use a shorter unpaid-rent notice.
None of Maine's 1 neighbors follows the same rule.
| Unpaid rent · lease violation | States |
|---|---|
| 7 days · 7 days | Maine |
| 7 days · 30 days | New Hampshire |
Local rules in Maine
Mobile home park tenancies follow separate deposit rules in 10 M.R.S. § 9098 (up to 3 months' rent, interest owed).
Other Maine rules
| Security deposit limit | 2 months' rent14 M.R.S. § 6032, 14 M.R.S. § 6037(2) (owner-occupied ≤5-unit exemption) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 21 days after move-out14 M.R.S. § 6033(2) |
| Late-fee cap | Up to 4% of one month's rent; must be disclosed in writing at the start of the tenancy14 M.R.S. § 6028(2)-(3) |
| Entry notice | 24 hours' notice14 M.R.S. § 6025 |
| Rent-increase notice | 45 days (75 days' written notice when an increase, alone or combined with other increases in a 12-month period, totals 10% or more (not applicable to deed-restricted affordable or subsidized housing). The 45-day rule also covers increases in mandatory recurring fees)14 M.R.S. § 6015 |